LETTERS; E-Reader vs. Printed Book: Which Is Greener?

Published: April 6, 2010

Indeed, I have found myself momentarily speechless in response to e-reader owners self-righteously proclaiming just how positive an environmental impact their electronic books offer as compared with the old-fashioned bound book, but this article gives me just the hard data I need to find my tongue.

Perhaps someday when it can be manufactured entirely from recycled components, we can justify the indulgence, but for the time being, I wholeheartedly endorse the closing lines of Mr. Goleman's and Mr. Norris's article. I'd much rather proudly display my library card than flaunt an iPad.

Public libraries exist because we support them with our tax dollars and private contributions. The return on that investment includes a more democratic form of information access than the iPad will ever boast, and that, dear readers, is a far deeper shade of green.

Sydelle Zove
Conshohocken, Pa., April 4, 2010

The writer is formerly the vice president of the board of directors of the William Jeanes Memorial Library of Whitemarsh Township, Pa.

To the Editor:

The comparison of the environmental impact of manufacturing a printed book with that of an iPad recalls the traditional recipe for lark-and-camel pie -- in equal parts, one lark and one camel. While the impact of the iPad may be greater than that of the book, the tablet can provide access to thousands of books, which will therefore not need to be printed.

All else being equal, the environmental benefit of shifting to e-book readers would seem to outweigh any advantage of the conventional book.

Joseph Raben
Barrington, R.I., April 4, 2010

The writer is founding president of the Association for Computers and the Humanities.

To the Editor:

To Daniel Goleman's and Gregory Norris's lovely analysis of the relative greenness of an e-reader and a printed book, I would add the following comparison:

One book, once printed and installed on a library shelf, may be read by thousands of people. One iPad, by contrast, will likely be used by one person. Imagine the environmental impact if we all were to switch to electronic reading!